The Forthcoming Centenay Celebration Of The Girls' School.

THE FORTHCOMING CENTENAY CELEBRATION OF THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .

We offer no apology for again calling the attention of our readers to the Centenary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , which is to be celebrated at the Royal Albert Hall on the 7 th prox ., when our M . W . Grand Master will preside—indeed , we have an especial reason for mentioning the subject , as vve find the Executive Committee of the Board of Stewards have felt it incumbent on them to issue a circular to the

Stewards mentioning what accommodation they will be able to give to the Stewards and their friends , and requesting them to determine , within what is now a very limited time , to what extent each Steward wishes to avail himself of the advantages offered to him . This , no doubt , foreshadows the pretty general feeling which we believe prevails that on this as on former occasions our Most Worshipful Grand Master

will be supported by such large numbers of our Order that even the Royal Albert Hall , with its immense capacity , will not be able to accommodate all who may wish to be present at this festive gathering ; but no doubt there is another object in view which is not to be lost sight of , and that is that the brethren should at once let the Committee know the number of friends . they may expect , so that the necessary arrangements for their enjoyment and

comfort may be carried out with that completeness which those who have the management of affairs are anxious to attain . We therefore hope that every Steward will see the necessity of making his application for tickets within the time appointed , and thus facilitate in one detail the arduous task the Committee have to discharge . Since vve last mentioned this subject the arrangements of the Committee have been further matured ,

and as the brethren are no doubt anxious to obtain all the information they can on the subject , we do not hesitate to recapitulate them so far as they are within our knowledge . The former Masonic gatherings in the Royal Albert Hall , the splendour of which is still within the remembrance of most of us , have made our readers well acquainted with the form of that spacious building , every portion of which , vve have strong reasons for

believing , will be crowded on the forthcoming festive occasion . The Royal table will occupy a central position in the lower orchestra , and the Grand Lodge Officers will be accommodated at other tables ranging one above another in the same portion of the building , the whole well being brought into strong relief by what , we believe , will be a beautiful parterre of shrubs and flowers placed in the upper orchestra . The ground floor , or arena , will

have a series of tables arranged longitudinally , and therefore at right angles with the dais on which his Royal Highness will preside , both sides of these tables being occupied by as many of the Stewards as can be accommodated thereat ; but what vve venture to think will be the crowning part of the spectacle , so far as the lower part of the hall is concerned , will be the amphitheatre , in which five rows of tables will be arranged rising one above

the other , forming a like number of horse-shoe tables extending round the hall , the brethren all facing towards the Royal table , their Masonic clothing being set off by the white cloth of the table immediately above them and the flowers placed on the tables , making the whole scene one of the most picturesque that it is possible to conceive , and which could not be achieved

in any other building in the Metropolis . So much for the accommodation of the Stewards and distinguished guests , for large as the space is , the numbers of those who have already sent in their names as Stewards , and the anticipation in the Executive Committee that others will still wish to add theirs to the list , render it certain that none but Stewards will be able to participate in the dinner .

Our other brethren who are not so fortunate as to be among the Stewards have not been forgotten , and we are not at all sure that those of them who can avail themselves of the entertainment provided for them will not have the more enjoyable evening of the two . In the first place , they will have the society of their lady friends , and we all know how much this adds to the pleasure of asocial evening . The vast proportions ol the Royal Albert Hall enable the Executive Committee to offer each Steward four tickets for

brethren and their lady friends at a very moderate charge , which includes such provision for the creature comlorts of the visitors as will convince them lhat the Committee have not been unmindful of the duties of hospitality , as light refreshments of suitable kinds will be supplied in all convenient parts of the hall , although the numbers at present render it impossible to give to our lady friends as sumptuous a repast as they have generally had at the Annual Festival of the Institution .

There is another feature in this Festival which we think we ought to mention , and that is the gathering to be held in the Royal Albert Hall on Monday , the 4 th June , when the prizes will be given to the children . No doubt some very distinguished hand will distribute those wellearned rewards , but at present we are not able to announce by whom they will be given . The interest the Stewards and their friends have always

evinced in the Institution will , we feel sure , lead to an overflowing meeting on this occasion , vvhenthe children will not only receive their prizes but will go through their calisthenic exercises and give their pianoforte recitals in the arena of the hall . What we have said proves that the Executive Committee are doing all in their power to render this Festival a magnificent success , worthy of the presidency which our M . W . G . Master , H . R . H . the Princeof Wales , has graciously

signified his assent to give ; but there is another side to the question , and that is the vast amount of trouble entailed on our energetic brethren of the Committee . We know they do not grudge the time they so generously give , and we think the least the brethren can do is to save them as much trouble as they possibly can , to respond as promptly as circumstances will permit to their appeal , and to extend to them the forbearance and consideration they have thought necessary to ask in their endeavour to conduct this gigantic undertaking to a successful and brilliant termination .

Ars Quatuor Coronatorum, Part 3.

ARS QUATUOR CORONATORUM , PART 3 .

Part 3 of the transactions of the Lodge " Quatuor Coronati , " No . 2076 , has been eagerly expected during the last fewtveeks , by some hundreds of Masonic Students scattered over the " four quarters of the Globe , " and has , at last , appeared , doubtless to the satisfaction of the many concerned , and certainly much to the advantage of the Fraternity . We fear that the

members of this lodge—the Literary "blue ribbon" of the Society—are getting too much out of the Funds for their nominal subscriptions , and , at all events , more than could be fairly expected from the Secretary , who is to us and his numerous friends , a perpetual mystery ! How he manages to write and do so much , how he succeeds in publishing such an extraordinary

Ars Quatuor Coronatorum, Part 3.

quantity of most readable matier , and how he nevertheless contrives exhibit balances in favour of the Lodge Funds , on the slender subscri ption " of one guinea , and half a guinea , for the Inner and Outer Circles resn S lively , is to us , even with the well arranged details of the accounts before u ° " a Masonic wonder 1 S | VVe betray no confidences , as in the Part 3 full information is »;„„ respecting the financial as well as the personnel of the lodge . From th

former we gather that the "Correspondence Circle receipts and expe , diture are kept quite distinct from the regular Lodge Funds , so that th members of the former , whilst sharing to a considerable extent the benefit of association with the lodge , contribute in no way to its expenses save in relation to the Transactions , which are covered by their subscriptions . ru the fact that of the lod

course , no part ge funds being available for the pur , pose of refreshment explains a great deal , but even then , nothing but the most caretu ! management , and all the literary work being cheerfull y pr . sented to the lodge by the members , and especially by the Secretary , can at all explain the extraordinary number of publications being issued in about

two years . The publicity given to the management , financially and generall y , iSa most commendable feature , for the membership is widely scattered , and hence nothing but taking all of them—whether of the lodge or correspou . dence—into full confidence , can at all ensure the right sort of feeling between those who rule and those who are ruled , It is simply impossible for more to be done in this direction , and we again commend the W . M . and Secre . tary for such far-seeing and far-reaching management .

The only lamentable feature in the matter is the paucity of attendance at the meetings , which , however , though accounted for by the character of lodge , and the fact that the members are hundreds and some thousands miles apart , yet we hope as the bright and interesting assemblies of the lodge become widely known , our Metropolitan brethren will more largely attend as visitors , for a very warm welcome always awaits them , and much profit cannot fail to be realised .

But to Part 3 ! Over 50 pages are literally " crammed full " of most valuable and highly instructive matter , and this time the abilities of the artistic brethren have been utilised to such an extent as to make this part of more than ordinary interest and even beauty . The Paper by Bro . W . Simpson , M . R . A . S ., & c . ( S . W . 2076 ) on "The Three-Fold Division of Temples , " must be read and carefully studied to be

understood . To explain it in a brief notice we cannot , suffice it to say that the author is practically acquainted with the subject , having been an extensive traveller , and the plates , by way of illustration ( two being the full size of the volume ) , render the learned disquisition not only understandable to the ordinary Craftsman , but quite fascinating to those who delight lo look into the eventful past . The plans , as might have been expected , are

well executed , and ably explain many of the points incidental to the study of such a confessedly difficult subject . No little interest and value are centered in the remarks appended to the paper by Brothers Cama , Castle , O . C ; Dr . Woodman , the Secretary , Professor Lewis , Rylands , F . S . A . ; and the W . M . ( Bro . R . F . Gould . ) A " leaflet" is also printed from the Rev . E . M . Myers , of Petersburg ,

Virginia , on " Indian Relics , " which appears to have been almost too much for the Secretary , for with commendable caution he made enquiries from an esteemed foreign brother as to the authority for the narrative . This is ; given—such as it is . This is followed by an article—communicated to the editor , Bro . Speth—on "The unrecognised Lodges and Degrees of Freemasonry before and after 1717 . " We fear it would scarcely be fair to quote

at length from this essay , when copies may be had from the Secretary for a nominal sum ; but we may state that it is written by Bro . John Yarker , P . M ., & c , of Manchester , who has made this branch of Freemasonry his especial study , and that it may be considered as one of the best of the many papers that has been written . We cannot accept all his statements ,

but we venture to affirm that all of them are worthy of a very careful ex- j amination , and should be treated in the spirit which has actuated the author in thus making them known , viz ., ' ¦ in advancing these views I must ask the brethren to believe that I am actuated solel y by the desire of Masonic truth in history . "

" Shall I be a Mason ? " ( translated from the French of Bro . P . Tempels , by Bro . Speth ) is a curious and amusing sort of answer to the enquiry , a ™ * ends with the advice " Join the Masons only if you desire it for your own j sake ; whoever you mav be , they can get on excellently well without you •1 Bro . W . H . Jacob , P . M . 76 , ' follows with " A lew thoughts on the effigy of a reputed Grand Master of Freemasons in Winchester Cathedral , " the

fragment of stone , thus described , being portrayed in a cap ital engraving , full size of the volume , from a photograph by Rider of Winchester . The next study is the life of Fessler , the German Masonic Historian , by Bro . Beck , the translation being , as usual , by the ever active Secretary . who also supplies a list of some of the works by that prominent Craftsman-The paper that interests us most of the series , however , is that by I * "" ' ;

Rylands , entitled "A word on the Legends of the Compagnonnage , " w" j a most suggestive illustration from the 3 rd edition of Perdiguier ' s work , wnic j it appears Bro . Rylands has been the first to announce and thus maK known in an English form . A second paper is to follow , after yvhicn " * hope to consider the whole subject , and meanwhile we thank the autn most warmly for another of his invaluable contributions to Masonic litera ^ tur . ;

Bro . Speth's article on "Two new versions of the Old Charges serves an extended notice , but that is simply impossible just now , and ^ sides , so do several of the other papers . VVe mean to be impartial ) * . ^ leave all of them alone , save to announce their value and excellence , not in mortals ( e . g . Freemasons ) to write on for ever , and whenever we gin to notice these parts , our pen appears inclined to continue indehm )> whereas a limited space only is at our disposal , in the crowded colum " t the Freemason . The reviews , reports of meetings , and notices are ^ ^ readable , but for t he reason stated we are obliged , though reluctanti )>

pass them over , , Ql > r Lastly we desire to express to Bro . Gould , the esteemed W . M * ' ^ warm appreciation of the obituary written by him of our lamented an - loved Brother Woodford , P . G . C . Nothing could be in better taste , a could only have been written by one who was a close lriend and an j . donate brother . The portrait of our "loved , but lost" senior men | a striking one , and cannot fail to be highly valued by the both " Cir cle '

At the Court of Aldermen at the Guildhall on Tuesday , after the reg business had been disposed of , the Town Clerk ( Bro . Sir J . B . Monckwo ; d 0 f letter from Bro . Sir B . S . Phillips , resigning the office of Alderman for the ^ tii Farringdon Within , and thereupon a resolution of regret , with best wishes tor 1 __ to and welfare , was unanimously passed , and ordered to be engrossed and P the retiring member .